Spring Break
The long road to Antarctica
Phoenix Mourning-Star
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Opinion
Arriving in Buenos Aires airport, it was great to be immersed in another non-English speaking culture and to meet up with the rest of the team.
By the time we arrived in Ushuia a few hours later, the bonding had already begun. You could hear the two-minute resumes flying around and the beginnings of networking and idea exchanges. We had all answered the same "call" to Antarctica to bear witness to the beauty and grandeur of the southern continent.
We spent two days in a conference-like environment laying foundations of common knowledge for the days to come: What is climate change, what role does government and policy play, is human behavior a component to be addressed, how much can we rely on technology and what does leadership and collaboration look like in attempts to minimize climate change?
The mainland portion of our journey ended when we boarded the Ukrainian research vessel that would be our home for the next 12 days.
On board, we shared tight dorm-like living quarters, a single dining room that held about 80 people and a medium sized presentation room. The ship also sported a small library, lounge and, of course, a bar.
As we made our progress to the Antarctic Peninsula, we spent the time continuing conversations and getting to know one another. The quick resumes turned into life stories of how we came to be doing the research, the degree programs we were in and how the work we do impacts the health and education of the planet and its inhabitants.
The second day on the ship saw a massive spike in seasickness -- likely due to the fact we were sailing into the tail end of a cyclone.
50-knot winds from a Gale-force 8 storm sent massive waves crashing over the bow of our ship. The vessel rocked the sick back and forth to their sinks.
When we arrived inside the protection of the South Shetland Islands, the skies had cleared and conversations and presentations were held without so much need for tethers.
By the time we arrived in Ushuia a few hours later, the bonding had already begun. You could hear the two-minute resumes flying around and the beginnings of networking and idea exchanges. We had all answered the same "call" to Antarctica to bear witness to the beauty and grandeur of the southern continent.
We spent two days in a conference-like environment laying foundations of common knowledge for the days to come: What is climate change, what role does government and policy play, is human behavior a component to be addressed, how much can we rely on technology and what does leadership and collaboration look like in attempts to minimize climate change?
The mainland portion of our journey ended when we boarded the Ukrainian research vessel that would be our home for the next 12 days.
On board, we shared tight dorm-like living quarters, a single dining room that held about 80 people and a medium sized presentation room. The ship also sported a small library, lounge and, of course, a bar.
As we made our progress to the Antarctic Peninsula, we spent the time continuing conversations and getting to know one another. The quick resumes turned into life stories of how we came to be doing the research, the degree programs we were in and how the work we do impacts the health and education of the planet and its inhabitants.
The second day on the ship saw a massive spike in seasickness -- likely due to the fact we were sailing into the tail end of a cyclone.
50-knot winds from a Gale-force 8 storm sent massive waves crashing over the bow of our ship. The vessel rocked the sick back and forth to their sinks.
When we arrived inside the protection of the South Shetland Islands, the skies had cleared and conversations and presentations were held without so much need for tethers.
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